Is your super on track for your age?

See how your balance compares with others your age and what you might need to save for retirement.

30 October 2025

Have you checked whether your superannuation balance is on track for your age?

Comparing your super balance with the national average can show you how you’re tracking. It can also help you make more confident decisions about your retirement savings.

Research from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) shows the average super balance by age and gender. These figures provide a useful benchmark to help you see whether your balance is broadly in line with others at a similar stage of life.

Once you know where you stand, you can start planning how to reach the level of retirement income you’d like to enjoy.

Average super balances by age and gender

Here’s how average super balances compare across age groups and genders, based on the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia’s (ASFA) data¹.

Age	Male average super balance	Female average super balance
Under 18	$7,666	$5,088
18–24	$8,069	$7,297
25–29	$25,407	$23,273
30–34	$53,154	$44,053
35–39	$90,822	$71,686
40–44	$131,792	$102,227
45–49	$180,958	$136,667
50–54	$237,084	$176,824
55–59	$301,922	$228,259
60–64	$380,737	$300,717
65–69	$428,533	$379,483
70–74	$474,898	$422,348
75 or more	$487,525	$416,279

1. Source: The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, An Update on Superannuation Account Balances September 2024, based on 2021/22 data from the Australian Taxation Office.

These figures show that average super balances increase steadily with age as ongoing contributions and investment earnings build over time.

However, a consistent gap remains between men and women across all age groups. Women in their early 60s, for example, retire with significantly less super on average than men the same age. This reflects a range of factors, including time taken out of the workforce for caring responsibilities, higher rates of part-time employment, and lower average earnings.

While the gap remains, understanding it is the first step in taking action to close it.

Read more about the challenges facing women with the gender gap.

How much super you’ll need

The amount you’ll need for retirement depends on the lifestyle you hope to enjoy.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides a useful guide known as the ASFA Retirement Standard, which estimates how much annual income Australians need for two different levels of retirement living.

• Modest lifestyle – considered better than relying solely on the Age Pension but allows only for basic activities and essentials.
• Comfortable lifestyle – allows retirees to maintain a good standard of living, including private health insurance, quality clothing, household goods, a reliable car, and the ability to enjoy leisure activities and occasional holidays.

ASFA updates these figures quarterly to reflect changes in the cost of living.

This table shows estimated annual budgets for people aged 65–84 (as at June 2025 quarter).

Category	Annual income required
	Modest retirement	Comfortable retirement
Single person	$34,522 a year	$53,289 a year
Couple	$49,992 a year	$75,319 a year

These figures assume that retirees own their home outright and are in reasonably good health. Refer to the ASFA Retirement Standard for the full list of assumptions.

ASFA also estimates how much the average Australian needs to have saved by retirement age (67 years) to support these lifestyles.

This table shows estimated savings required at age 67 (as at June 2025 quarter).

Category	Savings required at retirement
	Modest retirement	Comfortable retirement
Single person	$100,000	$595,000
Couple	$100,000	$690,000

In its estimates, ASFA assumes that retirees will draw down all their capital and receive a part Age Pension. Refer to the ASFA Retirement Standard for the full list of assumptions.

These figures can help you set realistic goals and plan ahead to achieve the lifestyle you want in retirement.

Checking whether you’re on track

Once you know how much you may need for retirement, the next step is to see whether your current savings are on track to get you there.

The quickest way to check your balance is by logging into your account through Member Online or the Brighter Super mobile app to check your current balance.

When you know your balance, you can start exploring your options using our calculators.

• Retirement Income Calculator helps estimate your projected super balance and income at the age you plan to retire. It considers your contributions, investment returns, fees, inflation, and any Age Pension you may be eligible to receive.
• What Age Can I Retire? Calculator helps you understand the age at which you could afford to retire. It can show you where you are today, where you may want to be in the future, and what adjustments could help you achieve the lifestyle you want.

Using these calculators can help you make informed decisions about your super and feel more confident that you’re taking the right steps toward your long-term goals.

Growing your superannuation

If your current balance or projections show you may fall short of your retirement goals, there are several ways to grow your super balance. Even small changes made early can have a significant impact over time.

You can make super contributions either before or after tax. The type of contribution that’s best for you will depend on your income and personal situation.

Here are some of the ways you can grow your super:

• Salary sacrifice – an arrangement with your employer to contribute part of your before-tax pay directly into super.
• Personal contributions – using money from your after-tax income, and because tax has already been paid, these contributions are not taxed when they go into super.
• Spouse contributions – if you’re married or in a de-facto relationship, you may be eligible to add to your partner’s super, helping each other save tax and grow your retirement savings.
• Downsizer contributions – if you’re eligible and aged 55 or over, you can contribute part of the proceeds from selling your home to super.
• Government support – programs like the super co-contribution and the low-income super tax offset can help eligible people boost their super.

Find out more about the different ways to grow your super, including conditions and eligibility.

When making extra contributions, it’s important to understand the contribution limits (caps) for both before-tax and after-tax contributions. While there may be tax benefits to contributing more to super, exceeding these limits could mean paying additional tax.

We’re here to help

Our team of superannuation specialists and financial advisers are always here to help you.

We offer our members Super Health Check appointments over the phone, at no additional cost. We look at the current health of your super, discuss different ways to grow it, and check that you are on track for a comfortable life after work.

For a deeper analysis of your financial situation and future goals, our financial advice service can help you plan for a brighter future.

Call us on 1800 444 396 to discuss the type of appointment that would suit you best.